Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In a pair of games between two teams needing wins to move into the post-season playoff hunt, homestanding University of Sioux Falls squeezed by the University of Mary 4-1 and 5-3 to sweep the Northern Sun doubleheader. Struggling to score against the Cougars, the Marauders went 12 straight innings during one stretch without crossing home plate.
 
The Cougars are 10^th in the 15-team standings after the sweep and the Marauders are 12^th with the top eight teams advancing the NSIC tournament on May 7-10. U-Mary is 15-25 overall and 6-14 in the NSIC. USF is 17-24 and 11-17.
 
The Marauders opened the scoring on a Dwight Mack RBI single in the top of the first inning of game one to plate Jason Shaul. U-Mary then failed to score in the next six inning of game one and the first six innings of the second game.
 
After the Cougars tied the contest 1-1 after one, the opener settled into a pitchers duel between U-Mary's Michael Vollrath and Henry Ojeda of USF. Both hurlers kept their opponent off the board until the Cougars scored three runs in the fourth inning.  The big blow was a two-run double by Noah Coleman.
 
Ojeda held the Marauders to six hits while throwing a seven inning complete game. Andrew Beyer led the U-Mary attack with two hits. Ojeda struck out three and walked two.
 
The offensive struggles for the Marauders continued deep into the night cap as the Cougars starting pitcher Derek Fischer kept U-Mary off the board for the first six innings.
 
Just as Fischer was keeping the Marauders offense in check, U-Mary starting pitcher Sam Salveson was locking down the Sioux Falls lineup with neither team scoring through the first four innings.
 
After Noah Durkin doubled home a run in the fifth to break the scoreless tie, defensive miscues tacked on two unearned runs for a 3-0 USF lead. An Anthony Lopez RBI double in the fifth increased the Marauders deficit to 4-0.
 
U-Mary finally broke out of its scoring slump in the seventh inning as a Mack single scored Derek Somerville and Shaul and the Marauders climbed within 4-2.
 
Trailing 5-2 in the eighth, Shaul drove home Alex Deyle for the Marauders final run of the night. U-Mary would go down in order in the ninth.
 
Shaul registered half the Marauders hits, finishing the second game 3-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI.
 
 
Salveson went six innings, allowing eight hits and just two earned sun while striking out four. Zack Steckler allowed one unearned run in two innings of relief work.
 
Fischer went all nine innings for USF, striking out nine and allowing six hits.
 
Offensively for the Cougars Dylan Dwyer had two hits and scored two runs. Gunner Peterson also tallied twice.
 
The Marauders return to action this weekend when Minot State University visits for a four-game set.
 
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